Feed water heater



Get Z4, 1933. A CAIN 1,932,111

FEED WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11v VEN TOR A T: ZRNE Y JfiLE Cam.

0611. 24, 1933. LE CNN 1,932,111

FEED WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 14 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JA.LECA|N. INVENTOR 4 T RNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PATENT "OFFICE FEED WATER HEATER John A. Le Cain, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Virginia Application February 14, 1933. Serial No. 656,690

6 Claims.

This invention relates to-feed water heaters particularly adapted for use on locomotives and an object of the invention is to provide a heater of the open or direct contact type, which embodies simple, practical means for regulating the Water level within the heater and for returning any excess water from the heater to the cold Water supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in the form of a bypass valve which will automatically cut off communication through the excess water return between the heater and the cold water supply, thereby preventing the flow of steam from the heater into the cold water storage and supply pipe at times when the pumps of the heater are shut down and the locomotive is idling, or standing with the locomotive cylinders using steam.

With these and other objects in view, as may ,'appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying'drawings, showing a feed water heater of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims;

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View partly in sec- 'ltion of the improved feed water heater showing the excess return, steam connections, etc., and

showing the application of the bypass valve.

Fig. '2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the bypass valve. Fig. 3 is a cross section through the bypass valve taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the heater showing the outlet end of the overilow pipe.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of a modified detail of the feed water heater.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the modified detail shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a feed water heater of approved construction or" the open or contact type is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and this heater comprises a heat- .ing chamber linto which cold water is sprayed through the sprayer 2 by a cold water pump 3 of approved construction which receives its cold water through the cold water supply pipe 4. In installation of the heater on locomotives, the pipe 4 establishes connection between the pump 3 and the tender (not shown).

The cold water sprayed into the heating chamber 1 through the sprayer 2 is heated by contact with steam which enters the heater through the steam inlet 5 and passes into the heating chamher 1 at its upper end where it contacts with the cold water, resulting in the condensation of the steam and the heating of the water.

The heated water and condensate falls into the hot water chamber 6 from which it is withdrawn by a suitable hotwater pump 7 of approved construction. The pumps 3 and '7 are operated by a steam engine construction 8 which receives its operating steam through the valve gear mechanism 9 and the pipe 10. The passage of operating steam into the engine 8 is controlled by the throttle valve 11.

The feed water heater disclosed in Fig. l of p the drawings and as hereinabove described, is of approved construction and is similar to those disclosed in prior Patents Nos. 1,606,880; 1,566,799 and 1,350,322. heater structure diiiers materially from those above referred to in the manner of controlling the water level in the hot water chamber 6 of the heater.

In the present invention an overflow pipe 20 extends upwardly into the hot water chamber 6 and heating chamber 1 of the feed water heater and it is provided with a plurality of openings 21 at a predetermined height so that when the level of the hot water reaches the openings 21 any water in excess of that required to reach such level will flow through the openings 21 downwardly through the pipe 20 and out through the openings 22 into the passageway 23 in the feed water heater body.

From the passageway 23, the excess heated water flows through a pipe or connection 24 into the bypass valve structure 25 from which it passes into the cold water pipe 4' and thence to the suction of the pump 3 for return to the heater through the sprayer 2.

If it were not for the bypass valve 25, the steam entering the heater through the steam inlet 5 would, (at times when the pumps 3 and '7 are shut down and the locomotive running, that is at times when the locomotive cylinders are using steam) back up in the heater and pass out through the overflow pipe 20 into the pipe 4 and eventually into the pump 3 causing the said pump to be steam bound and consequently interfere with its starting when it would be desired to again start the pump.

The bypass valve 25 is constructed so that it will automatically cut off communication between the pipes or connections 24 and 4 when the pump 3 is stopped and this action is controlled by'the throttle 11.

When the throttle 11 is open and the pump 3 running, steam is bypassed from the steam supply to the pump structure through the pipe 26 into the chamber 27 in the bypass valve 25. Such steam acting on the piston 28 forces this piston and consequently the valve disc 29, which is at- However, the present feed water tached thereto, inwardly, opening communication throughthe variousports 3 0 between the cham-- ber 31 which has connectionwlthlthe pipe 24 1 and the chamber 32, which has connection with the pipe 4, thereby allowing the excess water from" the hot Water chamber 6 of the heater to flow;

through the bypass valve into the water supply pipe 4. 1'

When the throttle valve-11., is closed: and the supply of steam to the bypass-valve 25Lis cut off,

the spring 33, acting on the valve disc 29 will force the valve disc 29 into engagement with its seat 34 and cut off communication between the" chambersfil and 32 and consequently cut-ofi communication between the overflow connection 2d andthe water supply. pipe:25.. A suitable stop.

35 isprovided: for limitingxthetinovement of the piston 28 and the. valve disc. 29!.

:In. order to bypass the excess. hot- Water from the hot water chamber 6 to the cold water supply a restriction. placed between the bypass CDIlr' Inv Big. 1. of the: drawings this restriction is shown in: the

nection and the cold water supply...

form of aventuriitube 40 which will cause a considerable drop of pressure. at 41, directly'opposite' the bypass opening. intothe cold water supply'pipe 4 with very little loss of pressure between the points indicated: at42 and 43;.

.Imlfligsz. 5;;6 and-1'7 or". the drawings, a. modified .form of the pressure loweringrestrictionis shown.

In this modified form, the pipe connection between. the bypass valve 25' and. the cold. water supply: pipe 4' extends through the cold water supply; pipe: 4. and has an opening: 51.- formed. "therein: and: opening. out in. the directionof flow of the cold water. The cold water dividing. as it flowsypas-t'. theconnection 50 will provide a low pressure area directly outwardly of the openingl5l which will allow. the excess hot Water to flow. into the pipe 4 and..mingle=. with. the cold.

Water'flowing to the heater.

A check valve 36 of any approved. construction.

is mounted: in the: pipe or connection. 24: so as-to preventthe. flow of cold water through. the; pipe:

'24 and in reverse direction from its normal. passage into the heater structure for preventing the improper passage of cold water at times when thewater level of the locomotive (not shown) is. above the heater.

From the foregoing description taken in con nection with. the accompanying drawings, it will appear. that a. feed water heater structure has been provided which will eiiectively take care of any excess water which may; accumulate in. the

hot water: chamber of the heater'andwhich will return this water to the heater. for reheating,

thereby saving not only the water but whatever might be contained therein and alsothat simple cold water to the heater, an overflow pipe in the heater, means for delivering excess water from the overflow pipe to the suction of said pump, and a bypass valve operable upon-cutting off of operating power. to the pumpto close the connection between the overflow pipe and pump suction.

' 2. In'combination, a feed water heater having a: hot Water compartment, a pump for supplying cold Water to the heater, a throttle for controlling operation of said pump, a connection for delivering excess water. from said heating chamber to the suction of said pump, and a bypass valve interposed in said connection and controlled by said throttle whereby flow or fluid through said connection will becutoff upon stoppage of the p mp- 3. In a feed water heater, a hot water compart- 1nent,.an overflow pipe-extending into said compart-merit and provided with openings thereinxat a predetermined point to'regulate the water'level. in the heating; compartment, a pump for. supplying cold. water to saidheater, and a connection between. said: overflow. pipe and the suction oil said='pump for delivering excess water from said hot water compartment to the pump suction, and; means for cuttingoflicommunication betweensaid ov rflow. pipe and. pump suction upon stoppage: of the t. In combination, a feed water heater, having; a hot water compartmenaa pump for supplying cold water to the heater, an overflow pipe extending into: said hot water compartment and provided with openings at a predetermined point 7 to regulate the water level in theheating come partnient, a connection for delivering excess wasaidoverflow pipe to the suction, of said .-u .p, throttle valve: for controllingoperation f pump, and a bypass valve interposed in said connection and controlled by said throttle whereby iiow offluid through; said connection will be out upon stoppage of the pump.

51.111 afeed water heater, a hot water compartment, an: overflow pipe extending into said compartment and provided with openingstherein. at a predetermined point to regulate the water level in. the heating compartment, a pump for supplying cold. water to said heater, a connectionbet-ween said overflow pipe and the suction of said pump for delivering excess Water. from-said hot water compartment to the pump suction, means for cutting ofi communication between said overflow pipe and pump suction upon stoppage of the pump; and pressure reducing means at the point of connection between said overflow pipea-ndi the pump suction. a 6. In a feed water heater, a hot watercompartment, a pump for supplying. cold water .to said heater, a coldv water. supply pipe for deliving cold water to said pump, an overflow pipe communicating with said hot water ch'amberffor taking. hot water above apredetermined quantity from the hot water chamber, said overflow pipe having communication. with said. cold water supply pipe,. a. pressure, reducing restriction in said cold water supply pipe at the point of connection between said. overflow pipe and said. cold water supply pipe, a throttle for controlling operation of said pump,. and a bypass valve'in said overflow' pipe. and controlled by said. throttle" whereby flow of fluid through said overflow pipe will be cut off upon. stoppage of the punip.

JOHN A. CAIN. M 

